The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-17
NRRE BEASTS OF BURDEN
TIE SEWING WOMEN OF LONDON
A DREADFUL STORY
That is Quite Pa'alleled b, the En-.
perience OF Women In New
York City.

London correspondence of the
New York Herald: The wretched
pay of the London female workers
and the crowds of vicious women
who throug the London streets every
evening are closely related as ia
cause and effect. Anyone inclined
to impute the vice to natural
viciousness can in half days in-
quiry among needle workers easily
convince himself that this evil is
largely due to poverty. A more
hopeless, helpless, wretched life
than that led by an honest London
needle woman is hard to IMAGINE
The only cause for wonder is that
any woman will stand such a life
while she has it in her power to get
even few months indecent comfort.
In describing the lives of these
needle workers | have chosen with
some care typical cases from all Of
the brauches-fur sewers, book bind-
ers, dressmakers, upholsteresses,
shirtmakers and tailoresses. With
scarcely an exception the cases are
taken from among workers 10 Ok
ford and Regent street shops, we'll
known to all American visitors.
AS a good type Of the best style of
living which can be expected by a
London shirt and collar maker liv-
ing entirely by her own labor take
Q. 0. of Stanhope street, Regents
Park. She is a widow, So years old,
and has never been a week out Of
work for thirty-three years. She is
SO good a workwomau that she has
scarcely changed her shop for
twenty. three years. She said. II
am very fortunate, as | get steady
work. | live alone in this little hall
bedroom, for which / pay three shil-
lings as ccnts) a week.
II have never earned more than
fifteen shillings $3.50 a week. This
is just enough to support me, and |
can save nothing. / do not bother
about the details of my spendings. !
would 60 out of my mind if l tried
to plan ahead.
II breakfast at z 80 on bread, but
ter and tea. | have never had any
thing else for breakfast. If | had |
could not have brought up my chill
dren. | have a twenty minute walk
to my work, which begins at $50
o'clock. have never eaten lunch
in my life. Dinner is from IL to
1890 o'clock. In my shop there are
about thirty women. We each give
Sd C. cents) to q womal, who buys
meat and bread for all. The JAM
tress of the building does the cook
ing. In other shops they have to
pay as much as sixpence az cents
each for dinner, but in our shop we
are more like friends. We have all
worked there for eleven years to-
gcther.
Tea is from 3 to $50 o'clock, and
consists of bread and tea. | stop
work at 7 o'clock. My supper is of
bread and butter, with tea or coffee.
| never have more than one hot meal
q day. Working women can't afford
more, you know.
when my work is done I must go
to the poorhouse, but | shall work
as long as | can move arms and legs.
My sons have families and will not
be able to help me. The prospect
of dying in the poorhouse does not
trouble me. It's very good that
there is a place for poor people to go
when they are past work. | WASH t
quite so well satisfied with the pros
pect when ] first thought of it. |
used to have many bitter cry by
my bedside about it; but | am quite
reconciIed now"
From a member of the Shirt and
Collar Makers Society get the fol-
lowing facts
Poor pay rather than lack of
work is the crying evil of the trade.
Pay is by the piece generally and
ranges from Us to los (S3 to 50 75)
per week in the West End. Shirts
are made in the East End for I'd a
cents) each, from which cotton must
be found. Six shirts make a long
day work. Button holes Tin shirts
and collars) are made at from Id q
cents to 4d g cents dozen. The
average earnings are IS per week
for from twelve to sixteen hours
day."
OF the 1000 shirtmakers known to
my informant not one has saved any
thing.
Among the fur sewers found
great misery. Il. s., Of auckland
street, Hoxton, and her sister, girl
Of 16, will serve as samples. E. ).
is widow, 20 years old, of thorough
ly good character and hard, steady
worker. She lives in an eight by
twelve foot back bedroom. This ID
her workroom, kitchen and living
room. For it she pays 3s. as cents(
q week. The furniture is scant and
shabby. Fur clippings fill the room.
Il. S. said; II have worked at my
trade since was II years old, and
have done all kinds Of fur sewing.
We get six months work in summer,
but in winter, from Lord Mayors
day on, there is almost no work. My
highest wages during the past year
were IS. ($2) a week. My average
earnings would be Is. per week.
Fortunately trade was very good.
used to think nothing Of earning as
much as 12s. to 14s. ($3 to So 50) q
week. When l earned los. week |
could save for the dull season
my breakfast, lunch, tea and sup
per are of bread and tea only. For
dinner | get q half penny piece OF
fish. Meat | do not taste for weeks.
People say you can't live without
meat, but | know you can. A pen
ny's worth of potatoes make a nice
change from bread when | can afford
it. Rent must be paid first OF
all. OF course, if | get any money
l think Of my rent first Of all, as |
can't live on the streets. My food has
cost me as low as rs. Sd, (35 cents) a
week. l don't know how | lived on
this, but | did. My clothing never |
costs me over 92 $50 year. Ipaid
l0d. for the stuff 10 this dress and Is.
6s. to my sister for making it. | paid
her Is. per week until | made up the